True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
81Outstanding
$250
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 5 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Sony WF-1000XM5
HearWiki score
86
81
Sound
8.6
8.8
Noise cancelling
9.3
8.7
Battery
7.3
8.0
Calls
7.4
6.5
Value
8.3
8.2
Price (USD)
$180
$250
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Mixed generations
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Sony WF-1000XM5 (2023). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Apple AirPods Pro 3 brings ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid, while the Sony WF-1000XM5 answers with Top codec LC3 against AAC and LE Audio (LC3). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 answers on convenience features: it adds Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.
- AirPods Pro 320252 yr newer
- WF-1000XM52023
What differsAirPods Pro 3WF-1000XM5
- Top codec
- AAC
- LC3
- LE Audio (LC3)
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- Hybrid
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3WF-1000XM5
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $250
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 81
- Released
- 2025
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 8.4 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 8.4 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- 102 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 12 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- 8 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 5 min → 1 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- hybrid
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 5.9 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 39 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 6
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a comfortable, secure fit. They deliver clear calls, robust battery life, and a balanced sound profile, all wrapped in an IP57-rated design that handles water and dust. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging, they offer a polished experience for Apple and non-Apple users alike.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality with beamforming mics
- Pro:Strong battery life of 8 hours with ANC on
- Con:Fit may be tricky for some ears
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)
Sony WF-1000XM5
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are high-end wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation, delivering up to 12 hours of playback (or 8 with ANC on).
- Pro:Excellent ANC performance
- Pro:Long battery life (12h, 8h with ANC)
- Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3
- Con:Pricey at around $248
- Con:No official water resistance beyond IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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